Certificate holder



June 2, 1931. E. A. MORRIS CERTIFICATE HOLDER Filed Nov.

13 INVENTOR EA .MJrrZAS BY 6 IAAAI,

ATTO R N EY Patented June 2, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARD A. MORRIS, OF SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA CERTIFICATE HOLDER This invention relates to holders for the registration certificates of motor vehicles and particularly to one of that type which is adapted to be strapped about the steering post or column of the vehicle.

' The principal objects of my invention are to construct a holder of this general character so that it has a natural curvature approximating that of a steering post so that it is easy to apply, will not then warp or stretch,

and presents a neat and attractive appearance so as to be readily salable; one in which the certificate is properly held and protected on bot-h sides from damage; one in which only the essential data on the certificate is displayed; and one in which the post engaging straps are so connected that there is no tendency for the relatively weak and flexible holder itself to be torn or damaged at any point by the tension and rubbing of the straps.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred form of my improved holder.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the flexible or certificate covering element of the holder before being mounted with the straps and other parts.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal section of the device.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of holder. i

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the certificate holding element of such modified form of device.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, and particularly at present to Figs. 1-4, the

holder comprises a flexible body 1 of suitable material, provided with an oblong opening 2 and with integrally formed side flaps 3 approximately meeting but not overlapping each other. Stiff wires at are placed between the body and flaps at their junction and are secured in place by small wire staples 5. The edges formed at the junction of the body and flaps are then covered by rigid metal channels or mouldings 6 which are pinched in somewhat around the wires 4 and extend from top to bottom of the body. This holds the body rigid in one direction, and prevents tearing or buckling at the edges of the flaps, besides preventing the wires 5 from possibly coming out. The free area of the body between the flaps is of suflicient size to readily receive a certificate of standard SlZe.

Leather straps 7 to surround a steering post and provided with suitable cooperat ing and adjustable fastening means 8 are secured to the body across the ends thereof on the outside and between the mouldings by rivets 9. A sheet 10 of celluloid or similar material is then placed outside the body and is held in place between the straps and the body at the top and bottom and between the mouldings and the body down the sides. The celluloid is not permanently connected with any of the above parts but is merely slid into place, so that it may be easily replaced if necessary without disturbing any other part of the holder. As soon as the structure is assembled in the factory and while the flexible parts are still in a natural soft and pliable condition, the holder is placed about a cylindrical former or mandrel, the same size as an average steering post, and kept there a certain length of time or until the parts have assumed a permanent curvature.

Such curvature will then be retained when the device is removed from the mandrel and marketed, and this aids in placing the device in position on a steering post, prevents the body from having then any tendency to buckle or warp when bein applied, and adds to the attractiveness and salability of the holder.

the body.

Owing to the use of the metal mouldings the straps when applied do not bind and pull directly on the corners of the flexible body, and no tendency for the holder to wrinkle or buckle vertically can develop. The entire area of the certificate is covered by the body and flaps, and the opening 2 is so disposed that only the data Which is necessary for the inspection of traffic officers will be visible through such opening.

In the type of structures shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the body 1a has a. flap 11 extending from one side thereof and the same size as The body 1a has an oblong opening 2 cut therein and the flap 11 has a pair of flaps 3a formed by suitably cutting the same and functioning the same as the flaps 3 in the firstdescribed type. The body 1a also has a small flap 12 down the side opposite to the flap 11, and the latter has small flaps 13 across the top and bottom. When the members 1a and 11 are folded together, the flap l2 overlaps said member 11, and the flaps 13 overlap the body 1a. Metal mouldings 6a then hold the side parts rigid, while the flaps 18 are secured to the body by one or more rivets 14 or the like, These parts form a pouch which is closed around four sides, the certificate being placed by open ing the flaps 3a apart and inserting the edges of the certificate under the material surrounding the flap openings.

With thisdevice a single post engaging strap 8a is used, which passes through slots cut through the mouldings and the material thereunder centrally of the height of the holder as shown in Fig. 5. A celluloid sheet 10a projects between the mouldings 6a and the outwardly projecting straps 13, which for this purpose take the place of the straps 7 of the first described form of holder as will be evident. 7

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein. 1

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

.' Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A certificate holder including a body element having an opening therein through which to view the certificate, flaps flexibly mounted on the back of the body to form, with said body, retaining means for a certificate, and straps for engagement with a steering post rigidly secured to the front face of the body across the top and bottom thereof.

2 A certificate holder including a. body 5 element having an opening therein, flaps on the back of the body folded over from the sides of the same and forming with said body, retaining means for a certificate, rigid mouldings mounted over and enclosing the folded edges of the flaps and body, and strap means mounted on the body for engagement with a ing across the outside of the body at top and bottom and secured thereto between the mouldings. 7

4. A structure as in claim 3, with a sheet of transparent material overthe outer face of the body and having its edges projecting between the straps and body and between the mouldings and body. v f

5. A certificate holder including abody element having an opening therein, flaps on the back of the body folded over from the sides of the same, stiffening elements between the body and flaps at the junction thereof, rigid mouldings mounted over and enclosing the folded edges of the flaps and body and the stiffening elements, and strap means for engagement with a steering post, mounted on the body. 6. A certificate holder including a body element having an opening therein, and opposed flaps on the back of the body and connected down their outer edges thereto; said flaps forming, with the body, retaining means for a certificate, and combined being substantially the same area as the body whereby to cover practically the entire back of the certificate. V V

7; A certificate holder including a body element having an opening therein, and opposed fiaps on the back of the body and coir nected down their outer edges thereto; said flaps forming, with the body, retaining means for a'ce'rtificate, and stiffening rods disposed between and secured in connection with the flaps and body along the junctions of the same; said flaps and body being of flexible material. 7 p p 8. certificate holder including'a bodyelement'having an opening therein, and opposed flaps formed. with the body down the sides of the same and being folded over to extend across the back of the body; said flaps forming,with the body, retaining means for a cerwhich to View the certificate, flaps 0n the back of the body flexibly connected thereto down the opposed side edges thereof, and strap means for engagement with a steering post secured to the body.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

EDWARD A. MORRIS. 

